DENTISTS in Wales have accused the Welsh government of forcing patients to pay so it can pay less.

The British Dental Association in Wales was reacting to today’s announcement that dental charges will rise in Wales from April 1 by up to 36 per cent with urgent-care charges doubling from £14.70 to £30.

A check-up will rise by 36 per cent from £14.70 to £20, a filling will increase by 27.7 per cent from £47 to £60 and dentures will cost £260.10, up 28 per cent.

Welsh general dental practices chairman Russell Gidney said: “If this money doesn’t end up providing better and more sustainable care, then the Welsh government will be following the Westminster playbook.

“Forcing patients to pay more so they can pay less. Cardiff Bay must not go down a path that will widen already scandalous oral health inequalities.”    

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “Because of the extreme pressure on our budget it is right that we consider additional funding should be raised by increasing charges while we continue to protect those who are least able to afford higher charges.

“Despite pressures on our budgets, we continue to increase funding for dentistry — funding today is £27 million higher than it was in 2018-19, including an extra £2m a year since last year for health boards to address local access issues. 

“Any additional revenue from the increase in dentistry fees will be reinvested in NHS dental services.”

The increases in dental charges are the first since April 2020 and the Welsh government says that charges overall are still lower than in England.